Watching movies isn't enough for you, is it? You want to try making them yourself. It's a difficult world, and it can take years to break through, but the thrill of seeing your film on the big screen is unmatched. If you are ready and willing to invest your time, have the creative vision and an incredible ability to create something from nothing, you are in the right place. Do you feel it?
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Starting Your Career
Step 1. Watch movies
It's that easy. Watch and study the smallest aspects of the movies. It could mean watching the same movie multiple times. Try to count at least 15 mistakes in every movie you watch. No matter what kind - acting, editing, temporal continuity - try to find them all. For every mistake you find, you will find yourself learning how films are made, because, as they say: “Mistakes reveal secrets”. And watch them for inspiration too!
It might seem like an unnecessary step, but it couldn't be truer. What if a firefighter never saw a fire before trying to put out one? And even if you won't need them to develop your style, see it as a way to go after the competition. In this way, you will know what has already been done
Step 2. Start shooting short films with your friends
Use any means to turn them. Buy a video camera if you don't already have one. Remember, the quality of the media doesn't matter. Import the quality of the film, your vision. It is really the only way to start. Whether it's with your iPhone or the very expensive camera taken at Christmas, go for it. Experience is the only way to enter the industry. Even if it's a movie starring your little sister.
Shooting short films will force you to learn the technical aspects of directing. Directors are often pictured seated, wearing caps, frowning, and yelling at actors, but that's not the case at all. You will have to know how to edit, write, act and all the rest. These first steps will force you to do everything yourself, to develop the necessary skills
Step 3. Act, write and all
The best way to learn how to direct actors is by gaining experience acting, whether it's for other people's films or in a workshop. The best way to recognize a good script is to learn how to write one. The best way to choose the right music, the scenes to hold (and how), how to set the lights and the sets is to gain experience in soundtracks, editing and scenography / photography. You can't have the last word in every aspect of production if you don't know what you're dealing with.
Sounds pretty scary, right? It doesn't have to be. If you write your own script, you can direct, film and act in it. It doesn't have to last 2 hours! Even a couple of shorts will give you the necessary experience. And you'll develop a newfound appreciation for those roles
Step 4. Consider enrolling in a film school
Although not necessary, the academy is excellent for 3 reasons: forced experience, access to equipment and the network. Many have made it without attending schools, but just as many have benefited from it. You will have access to internships, workshops, and above all names, names, names. If you have a project, you can look for a staff (the door is revolving - you will help other people too). Obviously, at least in the USA, the best deals are in New York and Los Angeles (in Italy, certainly Rome and Milan).
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The Civic Schools of Milan and the Experimental Center of Cinematography in Rome are just some of the main Italian schools in the sector.
By attending an academy, the road will still be uphill - but hey! At least you'll be bringing the coffee to real directors instead of stacking DVDs in a country video store. And instead of asking for help from strangers, you can ask your mates to help you with filming. Hurray
Step 5. Work on a production staff
You don't become a director out of the blue. You won't seduce a big producer with your winning smile or your charm. You have to start somewhere, that is, within a staff. There are bills to pay, brother! No job is too small. Whether it's filling out paperwork, making sure the actors have their snacks or guarding the gear at night, it's a step in the right direction.
- If you are in the academy, look for an internship. If you aren't, search the job listings, hang out with local creatives, and offer to help out. If you are friendly and reliable, people will want to work with you again. And the jobs will become more and more important.
- A production company is more willing to give someone with 5 years of experience as a production assistant a chance, rather than some kid who has just graduated. So if you're not in the academy, don't despair. There is hope.
Step 6. Network
Long story short, you won't be a director without a portfolio. It is the most important thing to have. That said, it is definitely an industry where it is much easier to show off your resume if you have a way to fit in. And to fit in, you need to start networking, immediately. The more people you know, the more opportunities will present themselves to you. For every door that closes in front of you, a door will open.
This is why it is important to always show your best. You will be able to act like a dictator when you are in your villa in the countryside. But for now, be good. You never know when you might need a favor. But remember: believe in yourself
Part 2 of 3: Break through
Step 1. Look for some change among the sofa cushions
Since you need experience to start your portfolio, and you need a portfolio to gain experience, you will be eating Chinese food and sandwiches for a while. Some directors tell of decades of poverty before they managed to make a living from cinema. It won't be gorgeous, but keep in mind that it will be worth it in the end.
That said, it is important not to have a solid plan B. If you do, you will tend to sit on top of it. So whatever job you have to pay the bills, don't get too attached to it. That desk could end up trapping you
Step 2. Find more rounding jobs
Film directors are the big shots in the industry. To be one of them, you have to be good. For this, it is much easier to fill your resume (and pockets) with other jobs, such as video clips and programs or TV commercials. The salaries will not be 6 zeros, but they will allow you to take home the bread.
Some of these jobs will pay off well, and may become tempting. Ads are not something to be ashamed of! And don't think you're a sellout - you still have to eat
Step 3. Make deserving short films
It's the quickest way to launch your career. Sure, you've shot shorts before, but they were with your iPhone and they were about your friend Pietro pissing himself. Work with your new friends, actors eager to work with you and with whom you want to work, and work with others who are trying to break through the industry by producing something good. Sometimes the budget will come from your savings, other times it won't, but it's a necessary step on the ladder to success.
Step 4. Submit your shorts to film festivals
Hurray, we are finally moving on to the recognition phase. If you have a film that you are particularly proud of, you can submit it to a festival. The best part about it is that you can sign up for festivals anywhere. So look around, find the environment in which you want to fit in and spread the word.
- Sure, Sundance is the dream (yes, everyone can join; newbies and professionals alike get the same treatment), but with 12,000 members each year it could be tough to get noticed. Start from the bottom and climb slowly - there is literally a festival for every day of the year. Just make sure you meet the deadlines and requirements of each festival!
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Ideally, your film will get accolades and you will, and everything will be easy from then on. Your script may be chosen, they will want to buy it, and you can say “No! Unless you let me direct it! or give up and accept the money. The choice is yours.
Quentin Tarantino's “The Hyenas” was discovered at Sundance. Steven Spielberg stumbled upon a then-unknown film called "Paranormal Activity" at a festival. It can happen
Step 5. Put your portfolio together
Ok, now the fun and important part. That's what you will attach to any project looking for a director. The models submit their portfolios, the actors their photos and resumes, and you must have this. It basically contains everything there is to know about you, and a little bit of everything you've done. Here's what you'll need:
- Information about your training
- A resume that includes all your experiences up to that point
- Your contact details
- Video clips that also show your skills in editing, writing, animation and photography
- A list of festivals you have attended and awards won
- Various experiences - video clips, commercials, animated shorts, TV programs …
- Photos and storyboards that give an idea of your path
Step 6. Socialize
We have already talked about the network, but it has to be said over and over again, with fewer turns of words. Although you are the director, you are not necessarily at the top of the food chain. You will have to handle difficult actors. You will have to cut scenes due to the production's shortness of breath to meet deadlines and budgets. You will have to take orders from people you don't want to take orders from. And you will have to do it with a smile.
Imagine receiving a phone call from the producer, who expresses his disappointment at a scene filmed at 5 in the morning on the Romagna hills, to get the perfect shot at the best time. The actress changed a couple of lines to give the character more depth, and the money went up in smoke. But, yes, you have the situation under control. You'll spend the night rewriting the script to make room for something that can be shot in the studio the next morning. And would your producer by any chance also want me to clean the studio while you're at it? Because you can do it
Part 3 of 3: Becoming Famous
Step 1. Find an agent
Once you have a decent portfolio, hopefully some agents will show up to represent you. It will negotiate your contracts for you and help you recognize your best interests. And the best part? If he's honest, it won't cost you anything until he earns you (read: you never have to pay an agent). Agents aren't just for actors, you know?
A big part of an agent's job is negotiating your "percentages". This is the percentage of earnings you are entitled to from the film. When a movie makes $ 100, it's not a big deal. But imagine making a film that makes 1 billion euros. Those percentages change your life
Step 2. Be good and thrifty
If you're lucky enough to get a job with a team you've never worked with, here are 2 things you want to be: good and thrifty. Here because:
- Good boy. You want to have a clear view. You want to be able to show others that you know perfectly well how to get the essence of the script. You can make the actors, the writers and everyone else happy. You can see it. And for this, everything can go much smoother.
- Thrifty. What is the concern of most manufacturers? Money. So if you can stay within your budget, while turning out a good product, they'll remember it. Oh, how they will remember it. You are the man who saved him thousands (even millions) of euros. Difficult to forget!
Step 3. Prepare to take all the blame and no credit for yourself
When a film does well, it is rare for the director to be listed as responsible. But when a film goes wrong, it is always the director who is to blame. If it's a flop, you will be pushed to take on a similar job very soon. Otherwise … wait, what was your name?
It may not apply to you, but the masses don't see filmmakers as the incredible visionaries they are. It is the actors who make the film. So when it comes to the public, you won't be appreciated. And when it comes to the staff, it will be the same. If your film is bad, the producers will blame you. If the actor is not satisfied with his hair, it will be your fault. It is a process that, at best, you will learn to tolerate
Step 4. Stay healthy
As if the previous point were not enough, there is another point of this phase of not-losing-your-head: being a director sounds like roses, but you will soon discover that your best friends will be caffeine and aspirin.
- You are in an artistic field. At this point you understand that it is not a field full of people with limited egos and weak opinions. You will be stuck in a delicate balance between the producer who asks you to play the trombone and the main actor who decides to run away only to be chased by you. Directors have nervous breakdowns for reasons. It's tough stuff. You can cut it, right?
- You often work on the manufacturer's pocket money. And with "pocket money" they can also mean millions of euros, among other things. So while it may seem like you have the power and that this is your masterpiece, you will often be reminded that this is not quite the case. It sucks, but it won't last forever.
- Oh, and you'll also be at the mercy of time, weather, and places. The control you feel you have over your life will be microscopic at the worst times and minimal at the best. But then…
Step 5. Join the trade unions
Okay, all the trouble you just read? IMPROVE. For real. In the US, you join the Director's Guild of America (DAG) (as long as you reside in the US), and are guaranteed a salary of $ 160,000 (€ 120,000) for 10 weeks. That's $ 160,000 guaranteed, in case you don't feel like reckoning. And that's just your salary. They are peanuts, compared to what you can earn with a big movie.
In many cases, you must be hired by a signatory company to be eligible. Or you can do it without any support - they are your only 2 options. The initial fee is a couple of thousand dollars, and you pay minimal commissions on top of that. It is definitely worth it, especially in the case of one-off projects
Step 6. Enjoy your amazing work
We've covered almost every element, except what you actually do. You should already know, however. But just to be safe, we will leave you with what you will do during your days. In addition to shouting "Action!", Of course. Eventually, you can go back to your mansion in northern France and wait for the next call. You know, as long as you feel like answering.
- In pre-production, you turn the script into a movie. Something visual. You organize the logistics, casting and all the necessary scaffolding. It is definitely the most important stage.
- During production, you will be close to the stereotype of the director, with a little extra protection. You will guide the actors in the scenes and in the development of the characters. However, you will also be in a constant race against time to virtually build a masterpiece. It will be chaotic, but also exciting.
- In post-production, you'll probably sit down with the editors and put it all together. You must like the editor (and it must be mutual), otherwise it can make you look very, very poor. You will also have to choose the music and all the other details to blend it all together. It will be a great feeling!
Advice
- Be very visual in your direction, and spend as much time as necessary on your shorts, and only when you feel really ready do you throw yourself on a feature film.
- Make friends with cinematographers, producers, set designers and designers. Without them you are nobody.
- Try something simple for your first movie.
Warnings
- Treat everyone well. The film industry is smaller than you think, and people are whispering.
- It's not easy to make a career out of it, and you may be well into your 30s if you ever manage to become famous. Keep chasing your dream, though, and if you really want it, you'll make it.
